A man has denied a series of motoring and public order offences said to have been committed in County Durham last month.

Jason Lee Cheesey is to stand trial in the New Year on a six-count indictment put to him during a Durham Crown Court plea hearing.

The offences relate to an alleged affray said to involve the defendant, in Crook, on Saturday August 17, and a motoring incident on the A68 and the B6297, Bishop Auckland to Tow Law road, on Friday, August 23.

Appearing at the hearing via video link from the city's nearby prison, where he is on remand, the defendant's counsel, Penny Hall, said all the charges could be put to her client.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

He denied the affray, plus two counts of driving while disqualified, in both a Volkswagen Golf, in Ennerdale Drive, Crook, on August 17, and in a Ford Transit van on the A68, on August 23.

The defendant denied dangerous driving, in the Ford Transit, on the A68 and on the B6297, and assaulting an emergency worker, a police constable, acting in the function of such an officer, both arising from the August 23 incident.

He also denied damaging property, a metal gate, in Tow Law on August 23.

The defendant did, however, admit a further charge of escaping from lawful custody, at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham, also on August 17.

Deborah Smithies, for the Crown, said the case would have a two-day trial estimate  and would have to be fixed prior to February 24, when there is a custody time limit to detain the defendant.

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All parties agreed on a start date for the hearing of Wednesday, February 12.

Recorder Nicholas Lumley KC adjourned until that date and remanded the 28-year-old defendant, of Bedford Drive, Bishop Auckland, to remain in custody pending the trial.

The Recorder also told the defendant he must submit his signed defence statement to the court by November 12.